Federal regulators log a complaint every time an owner decides a problem is more than normal wear, and the resulting database is a rough but honest scoreboard of which vehicles frustrate buyers most. Engines, transmissions and electrical systems recur across the entries, often tied to a defect manufacturers have yet to fully resolve. Here are eight recent models whose owners have filed the most complaints with NHTSA.
1. Ram 1500: Water Where It Shouldn’t Be
The 2019 Ram 1500 leads this list with 1,465 NHTSA complaints, more than any other model examined here. Electrical-system failures dominate the filings, and many owners trace the root cause to water leaking past the rear window seals and into the cabin wiring.
That kind of intrusion can corrode connectors and trip warning lights long after the truck leaves the dealer lot, turning a seal problem into an expensive electrical hunt. Owners describe repeat shop visits before technicians trace intermittent dashboard warnings and dead accessories back to the same leak path, rather than to a single failed part.
2. Ford Explorer: A Transmission That Quits Cold
Complaints against the 2020 Ford Explorer top out at 1,213 filings with NHTSA, and transmission failures dominate the record. Drivers report sudden loss of drive that can leave the three-row SUV stranded without any warning light or fault code first.
For a vehicle marketed as a family hauler, an unannounced transmission failure in traffic is more than an inconvenience. Several filings describe the SUV losing power while merging or accelerating, forcing drivers to coast to a stop rather than pull away cleanly. Owners note the failures often surface well before the warranty clock runs out, prompting repeated trips back to the dealership for the same complaint.
3. Chevrolet Silverado 1500: An Engine That Can Seize at Speed
The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has drawn 1,080 NHTSA complaints, and most point to the same mechanical fault. Owners report lifter and bearing failures in the 6.2-liter V8 that can seize the engine while the truck is at highway speed.
A seized engine at speed is a safety event, not just a repair bill, and several complainants describe the failure arriving with no prior warning light or drop in oil pressure they noticed. The pattern has left some owners wary of highway towing in trucks still within their original powertrain warranty.
4. Ford F-150: Rough Shifts in the 10-Speed
The 2021 Ford F-150 SuperCrew has accumulated 1,001 NHTSA complaints, most concentrated on one component. Owners describe harsh downshifts and slipping gears in the 10-speed 10R80 transmission, along with drum failures that leave the truck hunting for the right gear.
For a truck bought to tow or haul, a transmission that hesitates or bangs into gear under load undercuts the one job it is expected to do reliably. Several complainants report the issue appearing well within the first year of ownership, before any scheduled service would have caught it, adding an unplanned dealership visit to an otherwise new vehicle.
5. Jeep Wrangler: The High-Speed Death Wobble
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler has collected 885 NHTSA complaints, with electrical-system failures leading the tally. Filings describe battery and instrument-cluster failures alongside a persistent high-speed shimmy owners call the ‘death wobble.’
A dead battery or a blank instrument cluster is an annoyance, but a violent steering oscillation at highway speed is a control issue that can catch a driver off guard on an interstate on-ramp. Owners report the wobble recurring even after standard steering-component repairs, and some describe it happening with no warning at speeds well above typical suburban limits.
6. Kia Telluride: An Engine That Drinks Oil
Owners have filed 736 NHTSA complaints against the 2020 Kia Telluride, most describing the same engine symptom. Filings cite excessive oil consumption severe enough to trigger low-oil warnings well before the SUV reaches its scheduled oil-change interval.
An engine that burns through oil faster than the manual accounts for forces owners to check levels between visits or risk running the engine dry, which several complainants say led to stalling and, in some cases, full engine failure. The pattern has pushed some owners to add oil weekly just to keep the dipstick in range.
7. GMC Sierra 1500: Failures Just Outside the Recall
The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 has drawn 568 NHTSA complaints centered on its V8 engine. Owners describe lifter and bearing failures that mirror a pattern GM has already recalled elsewhere, except these vehicle identification numbers fall just outside the recall’s coverage.
That gap leaves affected owners paying for engine repairs GM already acknowledges the underlying part can cause, simply because their build date or VIN range sits outside the recall’s boundaries. Complainants describe the failure as catastrophic rather than gradual, with the engine losing power or seizing rather than developing a warning noise first.
8. Hyundai Palisade: Oil Consumption Beyond Spec
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade has drawn 534 NHTSA complaints, and the engine is the common thread. Owners report oil consumption exceeding tolerance levels Hyundai itself sets for the engine, with some describing the loss as severe enough to trip the low-oil light between changes.
When a manufacturer’s own consumption standard is the benchmark being missed, the complaint carries more weight than a generic owner gripe about mileage. Several filings describe repeated trips back to the dealership before service advisors would authorize an engine teardown, leaving owners topping off oil themselves in the meantime.
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